Lifestyles

By the time the Beach Boys released "Pet Sounds" in 1966, a young Bob Lizik had more or less put the Boys behind him and moved on, musically. He remembers liking the hits, but considering the rest of the album "a little quirky." Many Beach Boys fans agreed with him at the time, except for the relatively...

He and She, who were once lovers, are cast in a 1930s melodrama where they have to play lovers. This sounds like trouble, especially in the hands of acclaimed playwright Sarah Ruhl. You can find out how it all turns out at the Theatre of Western Springs, Sept. 28-Oct. 8. Angelee Johns of Willowbrook...

It's not the Hundred Acre Wood and there's no Pooh Bear swiping a paw into or getting his head stuck in a "hunny" pot, but there's a definite buzz about locally produced honey in this community. One case in point is honey made and sold locally under the 6th Avenue Honey name. The name is a nod...

I do love the summertime, its lazy, warm days and soft nights, but once again, it's over. However for fashions, no season tops fall. And with so many great trends, 2017 should be spectacular. There's always a hot color for each fashion season and this fall it's the hottest. Dresses, coats, shoes...

I have something to say to all the men and women out there who think it's impossible to meet someone and fall in love over the age of 50. You are mistaken! Happily ever after at an older age happens, and when it does, it is beautiful to see. This past weekend, I went to the wedding of a couple...

Rhyan Komsthoeft of La Grange is a senior at Lyons Township High School. She is interested in pursuing a career related to music. Q: What do you like about Lyons Township High School? A: There are so many opportunities. There is something for everyone whether you are into music or sports. Q: Are...

Your pets can be blessed at 10 a.m. Sept. 24 during the 24th Annual Barkapalooza at Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St., Lisle. The West Suburban Humane Society benefit, which includes a Dog Walkathon ($20 adults; free for ages 12 and younger) and Pet Expo, lasts until 2 p.m. There will be performances...

Help Squad readers continue to have questions and comments regarding AT&T's decision to end copper landline service in Illinois. Below are consumers' most recent inquiries, with responses from AT&T, the Citizens Utility Board and even MCI. Jacqueline: I think the most important question about losing...

Mark Suppelsa still remembers what his wife, Candus, said to him seven or eight years ago. "She would say, 'You're not you, you're distant, you're edgy, you're not as funny as you used to be,'" Suppelsa said. Distant? Edgy? Not funny? That sure doesn't sound like the well-loved news anchor Chicago...

Sometimes, the story behind the story is as meaningful, wrenching, inspiring and heartfelt as the narrative on the pages. In Anderson's Bookshop in La Grange, as well as on other store shelves and school libraries, you can walk up to the "S" part of the children's fiction section and find a book...

Scott Eggerding of La Grange has been director of curriculum and instruction for 11 years at Lyons Township High School. Q: What did you do before becoming director of curriculum and instruction? A: I was a teacher at LT. I taught English. Q: Why did you want a curriculum job? A: I was always fascinated...

"I am not even kidding you, Mel, I am in the middle of a watermelon crime scene!" Needless to say, my curiosity was piqued when I received that text last week from my dear friend Amy. A watermelon crime scene? I couldn't imagine what the heck she was talking about. And then her second text arrived....

I purchased a KitchenAid stove from Abt Electronics about 20 months ago with a five-year extended warranty. I began having issues with the stove 12 months into owning it. It has been serviced in excess of seven times. Each time I call with a problem, the following happens: 1. Abt schedules a repair...

"I love you a lot." "You are so smart." "Rip my clothes off." Although I'm fairly certain that most men I know would enjoy hearing any of these three four-word sentences from a spouse, there is another sentiment that trumps all of these: "You make me happy." A woman I know recently told me a story...

Getting kids to eat their veggies, making mealtime less stressful — moms have always been problem-solvers. But some turned their problems into opportunities, and I recently chatted with several such mom entrepreneurs about how they did it. Eat your veggies Julie Lincoln's son was a picky eater. He...

A peanut butter licking contest will be one highlight of "Tails on the Trails," Sept. 9 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Rte. 53, Lisle. There will also be doggy games, a pet expo, and canine demonstrations. The event runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. but pups are allowed on the grounds from 7 a.m.-sunset...

"Don't put a fork in the microwave." My boy grinned at his father and let out an almost imperceptible sigh. He understands me well enough to know that I say things like this as we're unpacking things in his dorm room. He's a man now, actually, now entering his third year in college. But I'm still...

The Elmhurst Art Museum has scored a major coup by enticing Hebru Brantley, one of the most successful stars in Chicago's art world, to create "Forced Field," an "immersive installation" opening Sept. 9 in three separate sections of the museum's main gallery. Curated by Jenny Gibbs (former Elmhurst...

Gabby Joveck, 20, of Brookfield is an assistant manager at Oberweis Dairy in Western Springs. Q: How long have you worked here? A: Only a few weeks at this location. Q: How long have you worked at the company? A: Four years. (It's been) solid progress. I started as a crew member when I was 16....

Joseph McCauley of Deerfield is the new principal at Ogden Avenue Elementary School in La Grange. Q: Where did you work before being named principal? A: I was an assistant principal in Schaumburg School District 54. Q: Why did you want to come to Ogden Avenue School? A: I wanted to move my career...

Rhyme, puppetry and creative dramatics will be used to inspire preschoolers to love reading when Mother Goose and her Friends helps launch the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program at La Grange Public Library, 10 W. Cossitt Ave., 10-11 a.m. Sept. 9. The session, led by professional storyteller...

A few years ago, a section of my neighborhood in La Grange flooded after torrential rains. As this community has done many times before, from house fires to personal tragedy, it rallied as people helped friends and neighbors bail out, clean up and just get some hot meals or clean clothes. Watching...

Dining takes a deadly turn for the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, accidentally poisons 52 of her fellow nuns. Now the remaining sisters must dig up enough money for 52 burials. They decide a talent show is the answer in Dan Goggin's hilarious musical comedy,...

"A Chair Affair – Hinsdale," will take place at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 Eighth St., at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5. The gala cocktail auction will offer up one-of-a-kind pieces of chair artwork designed by local artists. Raffles, a jewelry pull and wine pull are also on the schedule. Proceeds will...

David Hartley of Lake in the Hills is a choir teacher at the Lyons Township High School South Campus in Western Springs. Q: How long have your worked at Lyons Township High School? A: Four years Q: What do you like about working at the district? A: I love working with my amazing colleagues and with...

Event: Ben-A-Fit 6: First Taste of Summer Supporting: Aspire programs that help those with disabilities achieve more independence for living and working Celebrating: Achievements of Aspire program participants. This event celebrated Karen Kusch, who has acheieved an independent living arrangement,...

Some folks go camping to satiate a craving for peace and solitude, but my family and I have come to associate our annual Labor Day campout with 20 of our favorite friends, loads of laughter and indulgent communal meals. Sure, we keep things fairly traditional by pitching tents, setting out coolers...

Rock snobs love to hate the '80. Many's the professional rock critic who dismisses the era as one of auditory punchlines rather than actual music. Scoff if you will. Those who lived through the Golden Era of Walkmen, Pac Man and wine coolers know that the decade's music was, like, totally rad....

Marriage isn't easy. Just ask a married person. Even the happiest of couples have their issues. But can you imagine trying to maintain a healthy marriage with your sister-in-law living in the next room? That's the situation of this reader: Jackie, I've been with my current husband for seven years,...

I am worried that I am a victim of a scam. I answered an ad for a quality manager on Indeed.com, which turned out to be a reshipping job where you work from your own home reshipping packages. I applied and was given several fast replies and requests for signatures to get me started working. After...

Kids can explore their creativity during Paint Covered Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekly in North Avenue Art Works at Wonder Works, 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park. They will use a diverse variety of paints, methods and canvases at this drop-in event that is free with museum admission. Activities...

Forget the pumpkin spice in the supermarket and at coffee shops. Ignore the Halloween candy and sweaters for now. It's still summer, at least for a few more days. The funny thing about living in a true four-season climate is the anticipation of the next season, which varies, of course, by the season....

Russ Miller, 89, of La Grange has written three spy novels and three nonfiction books, all of which were inspired by his career in international business. Q: How long have you lived in La Grange? A: 45 years. Q: Where did you grow up? A: Iowa Falls. It was a small town of 5,000. I am a World War...

Event: Century of Hope Dinner Celebrating: 100 years of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Gala Hosts: Most Rev. Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Msgr. Michael Boland, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Gala Chairs: Maryjeanne and Dick Burke, and Mary Ann and Al Moschner...

Whenever Carolyn Wilkin, Brookfield Zoo's marketing event manager, visits the zoo with her nephews, she's focused on kids stuff. But the zoo is not all about kids. "Sometimes the zoo looks very different when you don't have a kid with you," says Wilkin, Brookfield Zoo's marketing events manager. An...

You and your children can safely see the celestial event of the century at a Solar Eclipse Viewing Party, 11:54 a.m.-2:53 p.m. Aug. 21, at Scoville Park, 800 Lake St., Oak Park. Participants will make pinhole projectors, work on a science experiment and listen to a School of Rock band. The maximum...

In November 2016, Nicor replaced gas meters in our neighborhood, moving them from inside to outside people's homes. They used a third-party company to perform the work. Less than two hours after work in our basement was completed, my wife smelled natural gas. This was very distressing because she...

Just because we live in the present doesn't mean that we can't pine a bit for the past. Perhaps it's nostalgia speaking, but given the state of world and national affairs lately (alternating sad and scary) and the pace of life (fast at best, a blur at worst), it seems some of the good things in...

I recently had lunch with a friend, who uttered four words that stuck in my head long after I left the restaurant: "Marriage is really hard." My friend told me not to worry – that after a year and a half of marriage, she and her husband weren't headed to divorce court. However, she said that when...

Karen Roche, who lives in La Grange, answered these questions after a ballroom dancing lesson at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Burr Ridge. Q: What prompted you to take ballroom dancing lessons? A: I started taking lessons as a gift to myself when the studio opened here. But I have danced pretty...

I'm a firm believer that breakfast tastes much more delicious when someone else makes it for you, but I do the majority of the cooking around my house and even my own family members shy away from plating up a meal for me. Even so, my hard-to-intimidate, hates-to-cook/loves-to-eat husband mustered...

For 30 years beginning in the mid-'60s, Erma Bombeck pretty much cornered the market in mom comedy with her nationally syndicated columns and best-selling books. La Grange comic KT Speetzen doesn't mind the comparison, but it's clear she has something a little more edgy in mind for The Mother Cluckers,...

One of my favorite summertime events is Art At The Glen Town Center, a Glenview art show where artists set up tents and display and sell their work. The art includes paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics and furniture. What I've always found so interesting about shows like this is that people...

Seven-year-old Gia Tomasewski has a can-do attitude. Literally. She's taking cans and is doing amazing things with them, to honor the memory of a teenager whose life was taken too soon and to help other young people in need. For the past several years, Gia's mom, Ashley, of Brookfield has spearheaded...

Help Squad, Thanks for passing along information regarding warranties in your July 12 column, "What's in a warranty? La-Z-Boy owner wants to know". In addition to the information provided, credit cards will also often extend the original manufacturer's warranty. For example, I have a Capital One...

Jaime Kelleher grew up in Western Springs and graduated from Lyons Township High School before moving to Germany to work for a bicycle manufacturing company just two years ago. She just set the record in the Race Across Germany in July, in which she biked from the north end of Germany to the south...

Whether you want to take a leisurely 10-mile bike ride through Oak Park with your kids, see seven suburbs as you traverse 68 miles, or ride for 30 or 50 miles, the 11th Annual Wright Ride on Aug. 20 is the event for you. The ride is co-organized by the Oak Park Cycle Club and the Oak Park Regional...

Two huge fans of "Sex and the City" are bringing all six seasons of the popular HBO television show to the Theatre of Western Springs — in their own unique way. TJ Dawe, director and co-creator of "One Man Star Wars Trilogy," "One Man Lord of the Rings" and "PostSecret: The Show," has teamed up...

Back to School. Few words cause more dread in the hearts of so many. The lazy days of summer give way, with some resistance, to early morning alarms, homework, carpools and bagged lunches. These days, getting back in the school groove is less difficult. A slew of apps, websites and companies are...

Family fun will be the focus throughout Brookfield Zoo, 1st Ave. and 31st St., during Kids' Free Days, Aug. 7-9. From 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., youngsters can explore the inside of an ambulance and play health-related games, watch a performance by Emerald City Theatre and participate in activities led...

From the time we are little girls, women are shown through fairytales that happy endings almost always involve a prince rescuing us. The stories of Cinderella and Snow White are perfect examples of how a man "fixed" their bad situations by sweeping them off them off their feet to go live in a castle...

As a result of my July 5 column, "AT&T receives approval to end copper landline service. What's next for customers?" I received several follow-up questions from readers. These I forwarded to AT&T spokesperson Eric Robinson. The questions and Robinson's replies appear below. Q: Will I have to get...

Life is a series of stops and starts. Kind of like writing this week's column. Unlike the surrounding scenery, Wi-Fi isn't the best in Up North amid the woods and on the lakefront. I had to drive into the nearest town just to send this column to my editor. At the risk of sounding trite (not anything...

Summer is for swimming, so 75 youngsters, ages 7 to 18 years old took to the waters at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Burr Ridge to learn competitive swimming once school was out. The club's swim teams include 5- and 6-year-olds, though their performances do not count toward meet scores....

Tom Van Winkle of Riverside recently was chosen the new executive director of the Hinsdale Humane Society. Van Winkle has an undergraduate degree in mathematics from University of Illinois in Champaign and a master's degree in business administration from Loyola University in Chicago. Q: Where did...

Whether you're an amateur artist or a professional, here's you chance to leave your mark in Burr Ridge. Specifically, during the very first Chalk Fest event the morning of Aug. 3 at the Burr Ridge Village Center mall and residential community. Two hundred squares in all sizes have been allotted...

Shortly after my favorite cousin Annie finished college and prepared to take her place in the professional world, I advised her to keep a bottle of wine, a bunch of grapes and a wedge of fine cheese on hand at all times. She looked at me quizzically after I offered such simplistic advice, but I...

Families can get in touch with their roots at a Country Farm Fair, noon-3 p.m. July 29 at Wildwood Nature Center, 529 Forestview Ave., Park Ridge. "There are lots of simple old-fashioned games that are tons of fun, like Bingo, a pie-eating contest, potato sack races and tug of war," said Supervisor...

In the 1980s, my mother had a dog-eared copy of "Everything I Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten." It was a best-seller, mostly because it was apt and sweet. I don't know if this is sweet, but it might just be apt: I think I could pen a book on "Everything I Need to Know I Have Seen at a Concert."...

I've never considered myself a dog person, so I'm not quite sure how I ended up with a 3-pound Havachon puppy two weeks ago. Nevertheless I am now a dog owner and I'm not afraid to admit that I have unexpectedly become one of those dog lovers who thinks nothing of letting my puppy kiss me on the...

I read your May 10 article, "CUB analysis results in utility bill savings." I was specifically interested in the home energy assessment. I live in Naperville so I called the city of Naperville, my electricity supplier, to schedule a date for the home assessment. I was disappointed to hear that...

La Grange resident Dana Dreves started CraftWater, a company that sells premium, naturally flavored water and is sold in such places as the La Grange Farmers Market and the Hillgrove Tap in Western Springs. Q: When did you start the company? A: October 2016. Q: Why did you start it? A: I was tired...

Event: Chicago Shakespeare Theater Gala 2017 Benefiting: Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Communities and Classrooms and the free Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour Highlight: The first look at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, a new theater opening in September Guest performers: Heather Headley...

Music galore and more is in store for visitors to the Forest Park Music Fest, 5-11 p.m. July 21, noon-11 p.m. July 22 and noon-10 p.m. July 23 on Madison St., from Circle to Des Plaines. Two stages will be filled throughout the festival with some of Chicago's best bands, including the Blooze Brothers...

It's not quite a Chevy Chase "Vacation" kind of summer for me – save for at least one planned trip to a kitschy amusement park in a few weeks, an old car with intermittent air conditioning and some regular cursing at other drivers – but I've spent a fair amount of time on America's highways and...

I read your column "Confirmed and proposed changes to health insurance you may not know about" and I would like to get clarification on something. The article states that, "Now, as a result of rule changes by Health and Human Services, special enrollment is allowed outside open enrollment only...

Three years ago, when Gunter Gehl moved into The Vi, a senior living community in Glenview, he said he just wanted peace, and to be left alone. "My feeling was, 'I've lived my life, it has been fantastic, and now it's over,'" said the now 88 year-old widower, whose wife of 62 years, Annelene died...

"Because we can!" That's Chef Beth Partridge's answer to why we should make the most of the best produce of summer. Partridge is chef/partner at Autre Monde Café & Spirits in Berwyn, and she has plenty of ideas for putting summer on a plate. "The sheer selection of produce we have available via...

Adam Kneebone is a senior at Lyons Township High School and is pursuing an interest in music. Q: Do you get a lot of comments about your last name? A: I think it's Cornish. I get a lot more comments about my name than some of my friends do. Q: Why did you move to Brookfield? A: I lived in a condo...

Alvie Shepherd has been feeling pretty good about himself after hitting rock bottom more than four years ago. The 43-year-old Darien resident and Hinsdale Central assistant freshman football coach had built an impressive athletic resume for himself by the time he was 24 years old. Shepherd was...

With three young sons, there isn't a shortage of love or activity in the Tallarovic house. As a mom of three boys born within the space of four years, I can attest to that kind of bustle. Even after the birth of her first son, the notion of fostering a child was on Rayma Bavikatte Tallarovic's mind....

"It's out of control." "It's ridiculous." "Sports isn't everything." "It's just a game." "My husband is so tough on him and sometimes it's just too much for me." These are the words of a few different moms I spoke with on the subject of their kids playing competitive sports. Then I interviewed...

Expect to watch your kids moving nonstop — or join them — when Ben Tatar & The Tatar Tots perform at a Constitution Park Party, 6-7:30 p.m. July 20 at Franklin Ave. and Greenfield St., River Forest. "I love making it as interactive as possible," said Tatar, who is a Wiggleworms instructor at Chicago's...

I purchased a recliner from the La-Z-Boy store in Monmouth Junction, N.J., on July 31, 2013. When it was delivered in September, there was a problem with the way the fabric was put on the back of the chair so I called and complained. It was picked up and delivered again in October but they sent...

When I started working in the 1980s, the dress code for women in office jobs was very strict. Closed toe shoes, skirts or dresses — and you had to wear nylons. Pants, sandals and bare legs were forbidden. Denim? It simply didn't go there. Plus, were no casual Fridays and no such notion as business...

Who doesn't love the vintage songs of Tin Pan Alley? Or the Broadway melodies of Richard Rodgers with either clever lyrics by Lorenz Hart or the graceful words of Oscar Hammerstein II? What about international songs that have become American favorites or popular numbers lifted from works by classical...

Brian Thomas, who graduated in 2004 from Lyons Township High School, sells coffee via a mobile cart at the La Grange Farmers Market, at other locations and online. He also leads a youth program at the high school. Q: What is the name of your coffee company? A: Initiative Coffee Co. We are a mobile...

"Summer Brain Drain" has met its match with hands-on activities that will keep your kids' minds tuned in and turned on. Air Cannon This cool experiment comes courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry's "Summer Brain Games" program. This free summer program includes weekly hands-on activities...

Kids will be celebrating those fuzzy-haired, colorfully-coiffured creatures at a free Trolls Block Party, 6-8 p.m. July 12 at Harvester Park, 15W400 Harvester Drive, Burr Ridge. "It's going to be a blast," declared Superintendent of Recreation Lavonne Campbell. A DJ will provide music and lead the...

In defining the seven ages of man — from puking infant to mere oblivion — Shakespeare added a sharp edge of sadness to his otherwise sunny rom-com "As You Like It." The tale of lovers cavorting through a sylvan paradise is cut through by the melancholy musings of Jacques, a man of constant sorrow,...

There was a time back in the 1980s when people got into dressing up their outdoor geese statues in tiny outfits, like a slicker for rainy days, a mortarboard for a family graduation or a Santa hat for the holidays. Drive around the 'burbs for a few blocks and you'll still see some of those dolled-up...

A hobby I really enjoy during the summer is caring for the potted flower plants on my back patio. It gives me great joy to take a few minutes out of each day to water my geraniums, morning glories and other beautiful plants, pull out any weeds, and possibly shift their positioning for either more...

Amid the recent hue and cry over the Illinois legislature's inability to pass a state budget on June 30, a bill innocuously titled "House Bill 1811: Interpreter for Deaf – Sunset" passed without much fanfare. Though you wouldn't know it from the title, this bill included an override of legislation...

Emily Matthews, who graduated from Nazareth Academy in 2003, coached the 14-member girls softball team to fourth place this year in state competition. Q: What did it feel like to place fourth is state? A: Setting aside the fact that we obviously didn't finish how we wanted (winning state), it's not...

Everyone will be looking up during the annual Lisle Eyes to the Skies Hot Air Balloon Festival, June 30-July 2, Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St. Festivities begin with a carnival only, June 28-29. The carnival includes a magic show, ride a small roller coaster, a bounce house and more for kids...

Pause for a moment, and remember one of those days in mid-February. You know, the kind of day when the color of the sky matches the dirty snowpack on the ground, curb and corners of parking lots. You pretty much can't go anywhere on those kind of winter days without feeling enveloped in a pale...

Over the past several weeks, I've received status updates from individuals whose issues I've addressed, as well as comments and questions from Help Squad readers with experiences similar to those featured in my column. Robocalls and spam text messages Following my two columns addressing spam text...

Maybe it's because I'm a relationship columnist (plus a true romantic at heart), but when my girlfriend told me that she and her husband recently started sleeping in separate bedrooms, I felt really, really sad for them. In my mind, hearing "separate bedrooms" equated to them being disconnected,...

Joseph Scapellato, a 2001 graduate of Lyons Township High School, has published a book of short stories and is slated to publish a novel. Q: Where do you live? A: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Q: Where did you grow up? A: Western Springs Q: What is the title of your book of short stories? A: 'Big Lonesome'...

For the past decade, Theatre-Hikes has asked attendees of its shows at The Morton Arboretum what shows they would like to see performed, and every year "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has been at the top of the list. But the shows, which take place in various spots around the Arboretum with attendees...

The longest-running, all-American music blowout in Chicago is returning for a four-day Fourth of July weekend. The 36th annual American Music Festival takes place June 30-July 3 at FitzGerld's in Berwyn, which this year features more than 50 acts on three stages, including Southern Culture on the...

Two days of family fun and live entertainment are planned for the AWEsome 30th Birthday Splash at DuPage Children's Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, June 24-25. In addition to marking its milestone anniversary, the museum will celebrate the grand opening of AWEsome Water, which completes...

As the executor of my uncle's estate, I am attempting to recover the unused portion of his nursing home room and board from Courtyard Healthcare Center in Berwyn, which required him to prepay for each month. My uncle died on Oct. 17, 2016, leaving 14 days paid for but unused. There are no outstanding...

I'm the kind of mom who wants to know where my kids are at all times. Try not to judge me. When I was a kid, my parents were the same way. In my family, you had to call home when you got to your friend's house, you had to call when you were leaving your friend's house to bike home, and if plans...

I was walking out of Magic Wok in La Grange this week when a man on the street stopped me. He pointed at the sign in the window. "They're really closing?" he asked, looking what I would describe as crestfallen. "Yes, they're really closing on June 30, so you better get inside!" I told him. As I walked...

Hinsdale resident Lori Halligan is leaving the village and her job as executive director of the Hinsdale Humane Society, to move to Lexington, Ky. where her husband, Michael, has accepted a new job. Q: Where did you grow up? A: Exira, Iowa. It's a town with about 900 people. I grew up on a farm....

Picking berries this summer? Planting your own? Show them off; there are plenty of simple, fun ways to dazzle with seasonal berries in desserts like crème Anglaise and panna cotta. Even with just a few simple ingredients on hand, you can dress up fresh berries with a drizzle of pretty crème Anglaise....

Steve Tullis has been a firefighter/paramedic with the Hinsdale Fire Department for 12 years and is the department's public information officer. He also is a lieutenant in the La Grange Fire Department and a freelance writer. Q: Where did you grow up? A: In La Grange Park. I bought the house I grew...

It's summer solstice next week, which is one of my favorite days of the year, in no small part because it's the day of the year with the most light. At the risk of a double negative (sorry, Mrs. Marcotte, I know I used to get nailed for that in your eighth-grade English class), who doesn't love...

Clarendon Hills Park District has declared June 23 "Mega Free Event Day." They're celebrating the occasion with two free family-friendly events in Prospect Park, 315 Chicago Ave. First, they are treating families to the second annual Touch-A-Truck, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. There will be a police car,...

I recently heard from a middle-income family with three minor children who, for the first time ever, opted to go without health insurance due to cost. I also heard from a self-employed single woman who has for the past several years purchased coverage through the Illinois health insurance marketplace...

For as long as I can remember, in the days preceding Father's Day, I'd find myself in a department store shopping either for a shirt or a bottle of cologne or some other gift for my dad. The funny part was, I think my father found more joy in unwrapping the gift than he did in the gift itself....

They joke that they're "retired," but every time Chicago's first couple of theater thinks they've gotten out, they get pulled back in. So it goes with Paula Scrofano and John Reeger, who open June 22 in Drury Lane Theatre's "The Gin Game." Over the past 46 years (roughly the length of their own...

We asked dozens of chefs, general managers and owners at some of the most cherished outdoor dining spots in the Chicago area what's new at their establishments and where they head for an al fresco meal or drink when they're off the clock. Davanti Enoteca 800 Hillgrove Ave., Suite 100, Western Springs;...

It's summertime, and the living is easy. Or maybe not so easy, depending on the day. If you've seen a rundown of local news and alerts lately, you might have seen reports of attempted robberies, car break-ins and other crimes. Some of those crimes are seemingly minor, but ask any teenager who has...

I've always been a little bit of a nervous flyer. So when I'm on a plane, it helps if the window shade stays open. For some reason, looking out the window at 35,000 feet gives me a sense of calm, especially if the flight gets a little choppy. So, on a recent flight home to Chicago, when I was seated...

Unfortunately, as much as I was hoping this would be a column documenting progress, alas, it is not to be. Many regular Help Squad readers are likely familiar by now with the saga of a group of Naperville Carillon Club active senior living community homeowners whose issues I've been documenting...

A spur of the moment backyard party is often the best kind of party and invariably requires asking friends to chip in on a multitude of side dishes to round out a last-minute menu. We were invited to one such shindig last weekend and while I whipped up a batch of homemade mac n' cheese to keep...

Allyson Zak of Western Springs, the director of development and public relations at Plymouth Place in La Grange Park, recently received the Paul Harris Award from the Rotary Club. The award is given to someone to exemplifies "service over self." Q: How did you get into your job? A: I've done a lot...

The hills (and the village greens and the main streets and the parks) are alive this summer with the sounds of music for all ages and in all genres. Keep this guide to outdoor concerts in your area so you don't miss a note. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS Miller Lite Party in the Park, 4-8 p.m. Fridays, through...

Please help us get rid of Google calls. We are a small business. We get as many as five calls a day, 15 a week, that start by scolding us with, "Don't hang up. You have not responded to our numerous calls regarding your Google listing." We don't want to upgrade our Google listing. In fact, we dropped...

It seems like bullying is such a hot topic these days. With frequent news stories about cyber-bullying, kids being bullied at school and even adults being bullied in the workplace, almost everyone seems to have experienced a bully at some point in life. So when a friend of mine who is going through...

The robin started coming around our side door a few weeks ago. When I opened the door to take out the dogs or water some flowers, she'd swoop past me towards a nearby tree or phone wire. Her nest was tucked under the small portico over the door. Over the past few weeks, I saw that nest expand,...